Job Discussion Forums

[dawndada]

Hi everyone

I am a recent university graduate and am interested in teaching in either South Korea or Taiwan. I am of Filipino origin, although I am born and raised in Canada. I was told it may be difficult for me to find a job in Asia since I am Asian and that parents of little children taking English lessons or other students want international teachers that actually look "international". Does anyone have any advice or tips for me?

dawndada

[saint57]

This is a common question and the answer is most likely yes. However, the schools that pull this crap do it to everyone in one way or another. If you really want to teach abroad, get a teaching certificate and look for jobs at schools that are looking for qualified individuals. They usually won't discriminate.

[tedkarma]

Iin December I just finished off three years in Korea - and while there I worked with Black-Americans, Chinese-Canadians, Hispanic-Americans, etc. etc. - all of them doing just fine.

You WILL have trouble finding decent jobs if you press the Filipino issue. Most Asians don't quite understand hyphenated nationalities.

If you have a Canadian passport - you are Canadian - leave it at that. Resumes and job applications in this part of the world require photos - let them draw their own conclusions.

Try this webpage: "What if I am not young, white, thin, blonde, native-speaking, straight, or ?" at: http://tefldaddy.com/Not_Blond.htm

You WILL run into some prejudice - but some people don't hire old people like me either. The job market is big enough - and there is enough demand that you should do just fine. I believe that, ever so slowly, Asia is coming to understand that native-speakers are not always blonde-haired and blue-eyed Ken and Barbie clones.

[lovelybug]

Hey, I'm Vietnamese Canadian. I'm currently teaching in Jincheng, Shanxi, China.

in the beginning I wanted to go to Vietnam, but with the research i made, i found lots of talk about prejudice towards Asian foreigners. not only in Vietnam but other countries. i found no talk about this in China. now, i am here. i found, as long as you are a native English speaker, whatever goes.

the school
i got accepted right away from overseas. i didn't have any problems. they seemed to be excited that i was young, and somewhat delighted that i look Asian (and can use chopsticks.)

the locals
being an Asian female in China has more perks than i had ever expected. you move in the streets as an undercover foreigner, sometimes even hand in hand with your students and local female staff members when you are out. i teach college students, near my age, so i would go out with them a lot.

in the street
i look Asian, heck, i look Chinese. my grandparents are from Southern China. i'm truly an undercover foreigner. no one gawks at me like they would gawk at my foreign colleagues. with the way I normally dress in Canada, i don't get looked at odd at all.

at the supermarket
man, the trouble with looking Asian in China is that people will ask you if you need help. i don't know the language, so it's sometimes a little tedious. all i can do is say "bu dong" and walk away.

i don't speak the language but look the part of an Asian. i'm at a great school, luckily, and i have good support here. i will be going to go to Vietnam Jan '07. i've been told they will know that i'm a foreigner just by the way i move and dress, before opening my mouth. what's worse is that i'm Viet kieu and speak some of the language. ideally, it should come down to what school will hire you because of your teaching skills.

well, China's made up of Asian people of many hues to skin colour. i do a double take sometime with some people darker than others here. everyone just assumes you're Chinese and you go on with your business.